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<div class="title">Quick start </div>  </div>
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<div class="textblock"><h1><a class="anchor" id="quick_start_project_setup"></a>
Project setup</h1>
<p>Vulkan Memory Allocator comes in form of a "stb-style" single header file. You don't need to build it as a separate library project. You can add this file directly to your project and submit it to code repository next to your other source files.</p>
<p>"Single header" doesn't mean that everything is contained in C/C++ declarations, like it tends to be in case of inline functions or C++ templates. It means that implementation is bundled with interface in a single file and needs to be extracted using preprocessor macro. If you don't do it properly, you will get linker errors.</p>
<p>To do it properly:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>Include "vk_mem_alloc.h" file in each CPP file where you want to use the library. This includes declarations of all members of the library.</li>
<li>In exactly one CPP file define following macro before this include. It enables also internal definitions.</li>
</ol>
<div class="fragment"><div class="line"><span class="preprocessor">#define VMA_IMPLEMENTATION</span></div>
<div class="line"><span class="preprocessor">#include &quot;vk_mem_alloc.h&quot;</span></div>
</div><!-- fragment --><p>It may be a good idea to create dedicated CPP file just for this purpose.</p>
<p>Note on language: This library is written in C++, but has C-compatible interface. Thus you can include and use <a class="el" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html">vk_mem_alloc.h</a> in C or C++ code, but full implementation with <code>VMA_IMPLEMENTATION</code> macro must be compiled as C++, NOT as C.</p>
<p>Please note that this library includes header <code>&lt;vulkan/vulkan.h&gt;</code>, which in turn includes <code>&lt;windows.h&gt;</code> on Windows. If you need some specific macros defined before including these headers (like <code>WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN</code> or <code>WINVER</code> for Windows, <code>VK_USE_PLATFORM_WIN32_KHR</code> for Vulkan), you must define them before every <code>#include</code> of this library.</p>
<p>You may need to configure the way you import Vulkan functions.</p>
<ul>
<li>By default, VMA assumes you you link statically with Vulkan API. If this is not the case, <code>#define VMA_STATIC_VULKAN_FUNCTIONS 0</code> before <code>#include</code> of the VMA implementation and use another way.</li>
<li>You can <code>#define VMA_DYNAMIC_VULKAN_FUNCTIONS 1</code> and make sure <code>vkGetInstanceProcAddr</code> and <code>vkGetDeviceProcAddr</code> globals are defined. All the remaining Vulkan functions will be fetched automatically.</li>
<li>Finally, you can provide your own pointers to all Vulkan functions needed by VMA using structure member <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a3dc197be3227da7338b1643f70db36bd" title="Pointers to Vulkan functions. Can be null.">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::pVulkanFunctions</a>, if you fetched them in some custom way e.g. using some loader like <a href="https://github.com/zeux/volk">Volk</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h1><a class="anchor" id="quick_start_initialization"></a>
Initialization</h1>
<p>At program startup:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>Initialize Vulkan to have <code>VkPhysicalDevice</code>, <code>VkDevice</code> and <code>VkInstance</code> object.</li>
<li>Fill <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html" title="Description of a Allocator to be created.">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo</a> structure and create <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocator.html" title="Represents main object of this library initialized.">VmaAllocator</a> object by calling <a class="el" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a200692051ddb34240248234f5f4c17bb" title="Creates Allocator object.">vmaCreateAllocator()</a>.</li>
</ol>
<div class="fragment"><div class="line"><a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo</a> allocatorInfo = {};</div>
<div class="line">allocatorInfo.<a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#ae0ffc55139b54520a6bb704b29ffc285">vulkanApiVersion</a> = VK_API_VERSION_1_2;</div>
<div class="line">allocatorInfo.<a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a08230f04ae6ccf8a78150a9e829a7156">physicalDevice</a> = physicalDevice;</div>
<div class="line">allocatorInfo.<a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#ad924ddd77b04039c88d0c09b0ffcd500">device</a> = device;</div>
<div class="line">allocatorInfo.<a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a70dd42e29b1df1d1b9b61532ae0b370b">instance</a> = instance;</div>
<div class="line"> </div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocator.html">VmaAllocator</a> allocator;</div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a200692051ddb34240248234f5f4c17bb">vmaCreateAllocator</a>(&amp;allocatorInfo, &amp;allocator);</div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_create_info_html"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo</a></div><div class="ttdoc">Description of a Allocator to be created.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2413</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_create_info_html_a08230f04ae6ccf8a78150a9e829a7156"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a08230f04ae6ccf8a78150a9e829a7156">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::physicalDevice</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice</div><div class="ttdoc">Vulkan physical device.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2418</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_create_info_html_a70dd42e29b1df1d1b9b61532ae0b370b"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a70dd42e29b1df1d1b9b61532ae0b370b">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::instance</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VkInstance instance</div><div class="ttdoc">Handle to Vulkan instance object.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2487</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_create_info_html_ad924ddd77b04039c88d0c09b0ffcd500"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#ad924ddd77b04039c88d0c09b0ffcd500">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::device</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VkDevice device</div><div class="ttdoc">Vulkan device.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2421</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_create_info_html_ae0ffc55139b54520a6bb704b29ffc285"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#ae0ffc55139b54520a6bb704b29ffc285">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::vulkanApiVersion</a></div><div class="ttdeci">uint32_t vulkanApiVersion</div><div class="ttdoc">Optional. The highest version of Vulkan that the application is designed to use.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2496</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocator_html"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocator.html">VmaAllocator</a></div><div class="ttdoc">Represents main object of this library initialized.</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="avk__mem__alloc_8h_html_a200692051ddb34240248234f5f4c17bb"><div class="ttname"><a href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a200692051ddb34240248234f5f4c17bb">vmaCreateAllocator</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VkResult vmaCreateAllocator(const VmaAllocatorCreateInfo *pCreateInfo, VmaAllocator *pAllocator)</div><div class="ttdoc">Creates Allocator object.</div></div>
</div><!-- fragment --><p>Only members <code>physicalDevice</code>, <code>device</code>, <code>instance</code> are required. However, you should inform the library which Vulkan version do you use by setting <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#ae0ffc55139b54520a6bb704b29ffc285" title="Optional. The highest version of Vulkan that the application is designed to use.">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::vulkanApiVersion</a> and which extensions did you enable by setting <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocator_create_info.html#a392ea2ecbaff93f91a7c49f735ad4346" title="Flags for created allocator. Use VmaAllocatorCreateFlagBits enum.">VmaAllocatorCreateInfo::flags</a> (like <a class="el" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a4f87c9100d154a65a4ad495f7763cf7ca5f1b28b0414319d1687e1f2b30ab0089">VMA_ALLOCATOR_CREATE_BUFFER_DEVICE_ADDRESS_BIT</a> for VK_KHR_buffer_device_address). Otherwise, VMA would use only features of Vulkan 1.0 core with no extensions.</p>
<h1><a class="anchor" id="quick_start_resource_allocation"></a>
Resource allocation</h1>
<p>When you want to create a buffer or image:</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>Fill <code>VkBufferCreateInfo</code> / <code>VkImageCreateInfo</code> structure.</li>
<li>Fill <a class="el" href="struct_vma_allocation_create_info.html">VmaAllocationCreateInfo</a> structure.</li>
<li>Call <a class="el" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#ac72ee55598617e8eecca384e746bab51">vmaCreateBuffer()</a> / <a class="el" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a02a94f25679275851a53e82eacbcfc73" title="Function similar to vmaCreateBuffer().">vmaCreateImage()</a> to get <code>VkBuffer</code>/<code>VkImage</code> with memory already allocated and bound to it.</li>
</ol>
<div class="fragment"><div class="line">VkBufferCreateInfo bufferInfo = { VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_BUFFER_CREATE_INFO };</div>
<div class="line">bufferInfo.size = 65536;</div>
<div class="line">bufferInfo.usage = VK_BUFFER_USAGE_VERTEX_BUFFER_BIT | VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT;</div>
<div class="line"> </div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocation_create_info.html">VmaAllocationCreateInfo</a> allocInfo = {};</div>
<div class="line">allocInfo.<a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocation_create_info.html#accb8b06b1f677d858cb9af20705fa910">usage</a> = <a class="code" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#aa5846affa1e9da3800e3e78fae2305ccac6b5dc1432d88647aa4cd456246eadf7">VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_GPU_ONLY</a>;</div>
<div class="line"> </div>
<div class="line">VkBuffer buffer;</div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="struct_vma_allocation.html">VmaAllocation</a> allocation;</div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#ac72ee55598617e8eecca384e746bab51">vmaCreateBuffer</a>(allocator, &amp;bufferInfo, &amp;allocInfo, &amp;buffer, &amp;allocation, <span class="keyword">nullptr</span>);</div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocation_create_info_html"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocation_create_info.html">VmaAllocationCreateInfo</a></div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2879</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocation_create_info_html_accb8b06b1f677d858cb9af20705fa910"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocation_create_info.html#accb8b06b1f677d858cb9af20705fa910">VmaAllocationCreateInfo::usage</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VmaMemoryUsage usage</div><div class="ttdoc">Intended usage of memory.</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2887</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="astruct_vma_allocation_html"><div class="ttname"><a href="struct_vma_allocation.html">VmaAllocation</a></div><div class="ttdoc">Represents single memory allocation.</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="avk__mem__alloc_8h_html_aa5846affa1e9da3800e3e78fae2305ccac6b5dc1432d88647aa4cd456246eadf7"><div class="ttname"><a href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#aa5846affa1e9da3800e3e78fae2305ccac6b5dc1432d88647aa4cd456246eadf7">VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_GPU_ONLY</a></div><div class="ttdeci">@ VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_GPU_ONLY</div><div class="ttdef"><b>Definition:</b> vk_mem_alloc.h:2721</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="avk__mem__alloc_8h_html_ac72ee55598617e8eecca384e746bab51"><div class="ttname"><a href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#ac72ee55598617e8eecca384e746bab51">vmaCreateBuffer</a></div><div class="ttdeci">VkResult vmaCreateBuffer(VmaAllocator allocator, const VkBufferCreateInfo *pBufferCreateInfo, const VmaAllocationCreateInfo *pAllocationCreateInfo, VkBuffer *pBuffer, VmaAllocation *pAllocation, VmaAllocationInfo *pAllocationInfo)</div></div>
</div><!-- fragment --><p>Don't forget to destroy your objects when no longer needed:</p>
<div class="fragment"><div class="line"><a class="code" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a0d9f4e4ba5bf9aab1f1c746387753d77">vmaDestroyBuffer</a>(allocator, buffer, allocation);</div>
<div class="line"><a class="code" href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#aa8d164061c88f22fb1fd3c8f3534bc1d">vmaDestroyAllocator</a>(allocator);</div>
<div class="ttc" id="avk__mem__alloc_8h_html_a0d9f4e4ba5bf9aab1f1c746387753d77"><div class="ttname"><a href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#a0d9f4e4ba5bf9aab1f1c746387753d77">vmaDestroyBuffer</a></div><div class="ttdeci">void vmaDestroyBuffer(VmaAllocator allocator, VkBuffer buffer, VmaAllocation allocation)</div><div class="ttdoc">Destroys Vulkan buffer and frees allocated memory.</div></div>
<div class="ttc" id="avk__mem__alloc_8h_html_aa8d164061c88f22fb1fd3c8f3534bc1d"><div class="ttname"><a href="vk__mem__alloc_8h.html#aa8d164061c88f22fb1fd3c8f3534bc1d">vmaDestroyAllocator</a></div><div class="ttdeci">void vmaDestroyAllocator(VmaAllocator allocator)</div><div class="ttdoc">Destroys allocator object.</div></div>
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